M1 Extenuating Circumstances Question

[dragonfly1994]

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Dear SDN,

I have a question regarding a personal situation that came up. Over the summer before M1, I became seriously ill but then recovered in time to start M1l. I still felt ill, but started M1 anyway to see how I would do since I had recovered enough to begin school. I started M1 about a month ago, but another adverse problem in my health related to my illness popped back up. I decided to put M1 on hold, take a leave of absence for medical reasons (after about a month of class), and to restart up again next year as if I deferred. I'm technically on a leave of absence, but never even had a test in school (so I have no academic data yet recorded) and have no recorded grades. This literally came out of nowhere.

I'm still recovering from my illness, but I'm having trouble relaxing now because I am worried that this will eventually hurt my chances for residency or look bad at an application. I mainly could just use some consolation from people on SDN (or should I be worried?) Any thoughts?

 

[K31]

Yes, you will have to put it down when you apply to residency--ERAS has a question that goes something like "Has your medical education been extended for any reason?"

I wouldn't put anything more than "leave of absence for medical issue, since resolved". And if it's a medical issue, they aren't supposed to ask. If it is at the very beginning of MS1 and there are no other LOAs, I doubt programs will care.

 

[peteB]

Yes, you will have to put it down when you apply to residency--ERAS has a question that goes something like "Has your medical education been extended for any reason?"

I wouldn't put anything more than "leave of absence for medical issue, since resolved". And if it's a medical issue, they aren't supposed to ask. If it is at the very beginning of MS1 and there are no other LOAs, I doubt programs will care.

How do you know they are not supposed to ask?

 

[dragonfly1994]

Yes, you will have to put it down when you apply to residency--ERAS has a question that goes something like "Has your medical education been extended for any reason?"

I wouldn't put anything more than "leave of absence for medical issue, since resolved". And if it's a medical issue, they aren't supposed to ask. If it is at the very beginning of MS1 and there are no other LOAs, I doubt programs will care.

Thank you for the information. I'm very worried about how a year of gap will look on my eventual residency CV. The reality is that you cannot just take off a few months from medical school due to a medical leave - you have to wait until the next year. As I try to get better, should I try to do something (volunteer, etc?) in order to account for the gap? I'm actually very serious about this, and very worried, but at the same time need to recuperate.

 

[GoSpursGo]

I wouldn't worry too much about this; you're hardly the first person to have a medical issue come up in the middle of med school. Certainly once you fully recuperate I'd find something productive to do with your time such as volunteering or research or something like that--no reason to waste the opportunity--but I wouldn't be overly concerned.

 

[Cookie Queen]

I doubt that this will effect your chances. We've had a number of people at my school takes a leave of absence and they have all matched or are currently getting good interview offers. I know one was due to a personal illness, two or so due to a death of a parent, etc. Just focus your energy on re-cooperating and getting your health back. If you're fully recovered before next summer, then go ahead and get a job or volunteer, but not until you're healthy. We have a guy whose mother got ill and passed away, so he took a year off and worked at a Starbucks for money in the meantime. And he's getting plenty of interview offers.

Focus on what's important now - you. You can't help others if you aren't taking care of yourself.

 

[yuiness]

As long as your medical condition isn't something that is likely to recur and have many exacerbations in the future (to such a point that it would interfere with your ability to function as a resident), I doubt residency programs would hold it against you.

 

[K31]

How do you know they are not supposed to ask?

It's basic employment law. They can ask if you have any conditions that may interfere with the necessary functions of your job (since they may be required to make reasonable accommodations) but they aren't supposed to inquire about the condition beyond that.

 

[cbrons]

I was only about 3 weeks into M1 when I had to take a leave of absence myself for medical reasons. It's brutal, and it was a long year while I waited to get back to school in the fall.

 

[dragonfly1994]

Did you find that it hurt you at all later in your career? And did you try to do anything with the unexpected time off?